Richard "Dick" Edson Israel

Richard "Dick" Edson Israel, a former Maryland Assistant Attorney General and former Annapolis Alderman, died on July 20, 2015 in Annapolis, MD of Parkinson's Disease. Dick was born at in Hutchinson, KS, on December 18, 1942, the only child of Helen Louise Kidwell Israel and Floyd Edson Israel. Telegrams were sent with the message, "Mother and son doing well, Father expected to recover." Dick was educated in the public schools of Hutchinson and Hutchinson Community College. He received a BA from The University of the South in Sewanee, TN., a LLB (law degree) from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. and a MA from Oxford University in England. He was a member of the Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia Bars. He briefly engaged in the private practice of law in both Lexington and Alexandria, VA. Dick wrote for the Labor Law Reporter of Commerce Clearing House in Washington, DC. In 1971, he joined the staff of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. In 1975, he moved to Annapolis to work with the Maryland Department of Legislative Reference as Counsel to the Senate Committee on Constitutional and Public Law. In 1978, he became an Assistant Attorney General in Annapolis. He provided legal advice to members of the General Assembly and also served as counsel to the Board of Supervisors of Elections for Baltimore City and to the Maryland State Archives. He retired in June, 2003. In the early years of his retirement, he did research on and wrote about various subjects. One of these papers was an account of the history of the adoption of the Maryland Executive Budget Amendment which received notice in the Baltimore Sun and on the website of the Maryland State Archives. Dick was active in the civic life of Annapolis. He was a founder, Board member, vice president, and president of the Murray Hill Residents Association. During his tenure as president (1987-1989), plans were made to celebrate the centennial of the founding of the neighborhood and publishing a history of the community. For many years, he was a member of the Ward One Residents Association and twice a recipient of the Association's John L. Prehn award. In 1983, he was appointed to an unexpired term on the Historic District Commission and later appointed to a full term. He also served as chairman of the city's Board of Supervisors of Elections from 1989 to 2001 and for a 1994 special election. In 2005, he ran as a Democrat for Ward One Alderman and was elected to the City Council. The theme of his campaign was that he could work with any faction while not being aligned with any particular side. He ran unopposed in the 2009 election and was re-elected. During his tenure, he chaired the Council's Rules and City Government Committee, the Economic Matters Committee and Finance Committee. As Alderman, he successfully sponsored legislation to help retire the City's debt and created the Blue Ribbon Commission on the City's Finances, which led to the establishment of the Financial Advisory Commission. He also redrafted the resolution expressing regret for the city government's role in maintaining slavery. Dick served as chairman of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, helping to organize "The Walk in Lincoln's Footsteps" commemorating Abraham Lincoln's visit to Annapolis. He also chaired the Southgate Memorial Fountain Restoration Committee, raising funds to restore the fountain in Church Circle. He was moved by the generosity of the donors and said the task was one of the most rewarding he had undertaken. He was named as Acting Mayor for the 2010 Memorial Day weekend, giving a brief address at City Dock about historic occasions when common humanity transcended profound political differences. He resigned as Alderman on April 8, 2013 prior to moving to the Ginger Cove Retirement Community. A life-long Episcopalian, Mr. Israel became a member of Saint Anne's Parish in 1975. He was elected to the Vestry in 1995, serving until 1998. He also served for a year as Parish registrar. In 2009, the Parish celebrated the 150th anniversary of the opening of the present building. Dick was asked to speak at a Sunday morning service about the 300-year history of the Parish. Other speakers included Governor Martin O'Malley and Mayor Ellen Moyer. Asked to speak for five minutes, he closed with a quotation from Winston Churchill: "We shape our buildings and our buildings shape us." Dick was a legal scholar of note and a problem-solver in the community. Known for listening to all, he held a steadfast belief in fairness and justice. His knowledge of history was extensive, resulting in a vast store of stories for all occasions. A kind man who devoted much of his life to the service of others, he will be deeply missed by many. Survivors include Maureen Lucas Seghieri, McShane Glover, Minor Carter, Geoffrey Mitchell, Regina Brady, Molly and Peter Smith and three first cousins: Sharon Kidwell Krumm of Chanhassen, MN; Donald E. Kidwell of Herndon, VA and John W. Kidwell of Bay City, MI. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Anne's Church on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 3:30 PM; a reception to follow in the Parish House at 199 Duke of Gloucester Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anne's Parish in memory of Richard E. Israel.